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“Irrigation Institution Reform – a Future Course in Nepal”

Madhav Belbase

Irrigation in Nepal began in Sixth Century BC.

Irrigation systems in mountain terraces were developed 400 years ago.

There are about 20,000 (640,000 ha.) FMISs

Modern irrigation systems development started since 1920.

History of Irrigation in Nepal

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Irrigation Objectives

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Past- Food production- Security against starvation

in hills and mountains- Increase in incomes

Now - Means for economic

development with crop diversification

- Employment opportunity

Future - An essential component of growth, social and economic

development, poverty reduction, equity and as links for national integration and unity.

- Irrigation water a tradable commodity in terms of "virtual water" particularly in the form of exported agricultural commodities.

Irrigation Systems in Nepal

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Categories

Surface Irrigation

Small < 10 ha in hills < 100 ha in Terai

Medium – 10 - 200 ha in hills - 100 - 2000 ha in Terai

Major < 200 - 500 ha in hills < 2000 - 5000 ha in Terai

Large > 500 ha in hills > 5000 ha in TeraiGround

Water

Shallow Tubewellupto 2.5 ha

Deep Tubewellgenerally 40 ha

NCT Irrigation

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Irrigation Systems in Nepal

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Small < 10 ha in hills < 100 ha in Terai

Medium – 10 - 200 ha in hills - 100 - 2000 ha in Terai

Major < 200 - 500 ha in hills < 2000 - 5000 ha in Terai

Large > 500 ha in hills > 5000 ha in Terai

Federal Affairs &

Local Development

Ministry

- Water Users Association- Demand driven approach- Participatory and capital cost

sharing (3 to 15%)- O & M by WUA- Technical, regional balance, social

and environmental consideration

- Technically, economic and environmental consideration

- Food security, regional balance, Employment

- Joint management- National interest etc.

Irrigation Systems in Nepal

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Shallow and Deep Tubewell

Micro-Irrigation

- Water Users Association- Demand driven approach- Participatory and capital cost sharing

(15% to 50%)- O & M by WUA- Technically viable- Development in cluster

- Sprinkler, drip, pond, lift etc- Demand driven approach- Participatory and capital cost sharing

(15% to 50%)- O & M by WUA

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Small and Medium Irrigation Systems are managed by the beneficiary farmers

Large and Major (>2,000 ha) irrigation systems are under joint management

Management transfer of state developed irrigation systems began in early 1990.

Operation and maintenance costs are to be covered by the ISF collected from the farmers

Irrigation Management in Nepal

Irrigation Present Status

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02468

1012141618

AgriculturalLand

IrrigationPotential

Irrigated Area

18

129.3

In Percentage of Land Area

0

5

10

15

20

25

3026.46

17.6613.68

Area in Ha ( in Lacs)

0

5248

Irrigated Area

Unirrigated

Irrigated Vs Unirrigated Area in Percentage of Agriculture Potential

Irrigated Area

Unirrigated

Irrigated Vs Unirrigated Area in Percentage

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Irrigated Area in ha

9

=Surface

Irrigation25%

Groundwater29%

FMIS intervened

31%

FMIS unintervened

15%

Total irrigated area 13,68,759 ha, Potential 1.76 million ha

Agriculture Vs Irrigation Potential, ha

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Terai

Hills

Mountain

s

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0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

013/14 012/13 011/12 010/11 09/10 08/09 07/08 06/7 05/6

Irrigation Service Fee in Percentage of Operation and Maintenance Cost

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

ISF GON Total Required

Huge Funding Gap of more than USD 50 Million/a

Maintenance Funding Gap

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Policy and Institutional Intervention through proposed

Irrigation Act

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Policy Interventions in Implementation

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Small Irrigation Schemes (single or group owned) with modern technology

Lift using solar, barsha or other mechanical means hills or STW

High value crops

Features

- No subsidy- Financing through bank loan with zero interest rate and reasonable

pay back period- Technology and skilled manpower available widely- Technology, extension and market management through apps- Cooperative for farm inputs and outputs management- Role of government facilitations

Interventions

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Policy Interventions in Implementation

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Medium and Large Irrigation Scheme and Deep Tubewell

Conventional Technology

Commercial farming

Features

- Subsidy and execution business as usual- District level offices / state – responsible for execution - Irrigation cooperatives for operation and management and farm

inputs and outputs management

Interventions

Policy Interventions in Implementation

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Large Projects,Interbasinwater transfer and reservoir projects

Conventional Technology

Food security of the nation

Features

- Public Private and Farmers Partnership- Central Level Project/ Board/ Authority for the project execution- Joint Management/ Local board for irrigation management

Interventions

Use of resources and regional Balance

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Policy Intervention

Multipurpose irrigation Cooperatives

Irrigation Management Boards

Creation of Irrigation Development Fund

WUA empowered to collect the ISF

Private Sector Participation

Declaration of Irrigated Area

Environmental sustainability

Irrigation Institutional Intervention

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0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

IrrigationManagement Board

IrrigationCooperatives

Total Area

Proposed Management Area Coverage '000 ha

Irrigation System Management

Large Irrigation Schemes

Small and Medium Irrigation Schemes

Irrigation Cooperatives

Local Governing Board

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• Capacity Building

• Funding – IDF• Technical

Support –Irrigation Offices

• WUA• Irrigation

Cooperatives• Irrigation

Management Board

• Sustainable: Development, Management, Operation

• Irrigation services available to all, accessible, dependable and participative

Increased agriculture productivity and income

Irrigation Service

Fee

Loan

Cle

ara

nce

Incre

ased

Inputs In

cre

ase

d

Incom

es

Inputs Transformation Units

Outputs Goals

Sustainable Irrigation Management Transfer Development and Agriculture Production Model

General Assembly of WUA

Executive Committee

Irrigation Management Sub-Committee

Agriculture Promotion Sub-Committee

Saving and Credit Management Sub-Committee

Market Promotion and Extension Sub-Committee

Coordination & Technology Development Sub-Committee

Sub-Committees at Main Canal Level

Production Groups

Irrigation Management

Group

Branch Canal Levels

Cooperative Model

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ID Fund

-Government Budget allocation

- Interest-Donations/ Loan

Sources

-Loan and subsidy (if any) to cooperatives and Irrigation Management Board

Outlays

Irrigation Development Fund

Characteristics of Board and Cooperatives

Autonomous

Efficient and Sustainable

Governance at the Grass-root level

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Chairman – Chairman WUAM

emb

er

• Representative – District Administration Office• Local Development Officer• Representative – District Agriculture Office • Irrigation Officer • Representatives from Village Councils – up to

five• Elected from WUA - up to five

Member Secretary – Executive Director

Constitution of Irrigation Management Board

Chairman – Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation

Mem

ber

• Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance• Joint Secretary, National Planning

Commission• Director General, Department of

Irrigation• Director General, Department of

Agriculture • Chairman, NFWUAN

Member Secretary – Executive Director

Constitution of Irrigation Development Fund

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Thank you